GERMAN authorities have detained the chief executive of Volkswagen’s Audi division, Rupert Stadler, as part of a probe into the manipulation of emissions controls.
The move follows a search last week of Mr Stadler’s private residence, ordered by Munich prosecutors investigating the manager on suspicion of fraud and indirect inproprieties with documents.
The company said that a judge had ordered him to be kept in custody pending possible charges at prosecutors’ request. It said it could not comment further due to the ongoing investigation, but stressed that “the presumption of innocence remains in place for Mr Stadler”.
A total of 20 people are under suspicion in the Audi probe, which focuses on cars sold in Europe that were believed to be equipped with emissions cheat software.
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